Roofing for box-cars



"(N0 Modeh) W. S. MORRIS.- aoormeron 30x CARS.

No. 487,193. Patented Nov". 29, 1892;.

WIT/M8858: M IlVl/E r09 {7 way fi ATTORNEY Utvrrnin STATES PATENT Fries.

WILLIAM S. MORRIS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

ROOFING FOR BOX-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,193, dated November29, 1892.

Application filed June 11, 1892. Serial No. 436,358. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. MORRIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roofingfor Box- Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inbox-cars, and more particularly to the construction of the roof of thatkind of cars known as box freight-cars; and the objects of my inventionare, first, to secure the greatest possible height to the interior spacebetween the floor and the ceiling of the car, while keeping the extremeoutside height of the car within the required limits; second, to leavethe inside surface of the ceilin g smooth without projections orrafters, and, third, to simplify the construction of the roof of suchcars by making the roof proper support itself without beams or rafters.These objects I accomplish by means of the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents the body of thebox-car in perspective, with a portion of the roof finished inaccordance with my invention and a portion of the roof removed in orderto show the form of the roof boards or covering. Fig. 2 is a detail sideview of one of the boards or planks. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing amodification. Fig. 4 is a detail side view of a board or plankconstructed as exhibited in Fig. 2, the edge-plates being shown insection; and Fig. 5 is a broken detail view of one of the edge-plates,showing the anglestrap secured thereto.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

B represents a form of roof-board thicker at the center and taperingwith a uniform taper toward either end.

13 represents a roofboard in which the taper is on a curve. The twoforms are shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

S represents the sides of the car-body; E, the end of the car-body, andF the floor of the car.

In Fig. 2 I have shown an edge view of the form B of a plank orcovering, and in Fig. 3 I have shown an edge view of a modified plank orcovering-board. When the roof boards or planks are applied and coveredwith suitable covering, they form a water-tight roof the entire lengthof the car-body, which roof slopes from center to either side with anincline sufficient to carry oi the water from the car. These planks orboards are secured to the plate of the car-body by means of nails,bolts, screws, or other suitable means.

I prefer to make the thickness of the covering-plank at its end aboutone inch and at the center about two and one-half inches. However, thethickness and weight of the plank may be varied to suit the car to whichit is to be applied and to contain greater or less strength or greaterorless incline.

In cutting the plank in order to give an incline (shown by 13,) a savingof the timber may be effected by cutting fromone end one-half way to thecenter and then by using the piece thus out off to raise the center andproduce the incline. This will leave the principal part of the plankwhole from end to end, but will raise the center portion, so as to givethe required incline to the upper or outer surface, or the plank may becut from the end to the center, so that the roof-plank as completed willbe a single integral plank. The only object of cutting from the endone-half way to the center is to save the timber out off and to utilizethe same to increase the incline. For ordinary purposes I deem this thepreferable way of constructing the roof.

As shown in B, the plank has a curve on the upper side, being thicker atthe center and thinner at the ends. Whether the form of plank shown by Bor the form shown by B is used, the roof of the car is formed withoutthe use of rafters or center plates, the tapering planks being nailed orsecured firmly and securely to the wall-plates of the car. D representsthe edge plate, and S an angle strap secured by means of screws, belts,or nails to the plate and to the plank, as shown in Fig. 4:- Thesefastenings are placed over the posts, preferably, and about six on aside; but the number may be more or less.

The roof-planks constructed as above described are placed edge to edge,covering the entire upper surface of the car-body. After the car hasbeen covered by the tapering planks, above described, thepartially-prepared roof is ready for the reception of the felt or othercovering, which may be applied in any suitable manner. The planks beingsea cured to the edgeplates of the body and being placed close togetherthe entire length of the car not only gives the car strength anddurability to the roof and forms a roof sufficiently sloping in eitherdirection for the discharge of the water caused by rain or snow,

but also leaves a smooth unbroken ceiling within from end to end of thecar, unob structed by plates, rafters, or other projecjections and of auniform height the entire length and width of the car-body.

In case the form shown "by B in Fig. 3 is used the planks may be outfrom logs 'or planks by means of a band-saw or other suitable means. 7

It is obvious that the tapering planks which form the roof of thecar-body may he made of any convenient Widths in order to be applicableto each particular style of 'car-body to which they-are applied. Thelength of the plank, however, should be sufficient to reach from side toside of the car, so as to allow the Water to drip free from thecar-body.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim to have invented, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the body of the boxcar, of a series of boards orplanks thickened at the center and tapering toward their opposite ends,said tapering boards or planks being placed together, so as to form anentire sheathing and support for the car and supplying the place of bothcovering and rafters,

thereby leaving the upper and inner ceiling of the car of uh'i'fo'rm'height from end to end and side to side, substantially asdescribed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set any hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. MORRTS. s] Witnesses:

DENroN O. SPROAT, EDWARD TAGGAR'I.

